Greenland and Denmark’s foreign ministers are set to hold talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday, amid President Donald Trump‘s ongoing push to take over the self-governed Danish territory.
The high-stakes meeting with Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and her Danish counterpart, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, comes a day after Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that the Arctic island chooses Denmark over the U.S.
In a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Nielsen said: “We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark.”
Why Does Trump Want Greenland So Badly?
Trump has revived his long-standing push to bring Greenland under U.S. control, reigniting interest in the mineral-rich Arctic territory in the aftermath of a bold U.S. military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3.
Trump has insisted that he will seize Greenland “one way or another,” even if it strains the relationship within the NATO military alliance. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) introduced a bill Monday that would ultimately admit it as the nation’s 51st state.
The Arctic island sits between North America and Europe, hosting the U.S. missile-warning base at Pituffik, and its thawing ice cap is unlocking rare earths, uranium, oil, and gas. Trump argues control boosts U.S. security and preempts rivals such as Russia and China.
Though a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been under Danish control for roughly 300 years, formally becoming part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. While Greenlanders gained home rule in 1979, Denmark still oversees foreign affairs and defense.
Most Greenlanders live on the south-western coast around the capital, Nuuk, as nearly 80% of Greenland is covered by ice. According to polls, an overwhelming majority of Greenlanders reject the idea of becoming part of the U.S.
—
Originally Posted January 14, 2026 – Greenland Says ‘We Choose Denmark’ Ahead Of High‑Stakes White House Showdown— Here’s What To Know
Disclosure: Benzinga
© 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Disclosure: Interactive Brokers Third Party
Information posted on IBKR Campus that is provided by third-parties does NOT constitute a recommendation that you should contract for the services of that third party. Third-party participants who contribute to IBKR Campus are independent of Interactive Brokers and Interactive Brokers does not make any representations or warranties concerning the services offered, their past or future performance, or the accuracy of the information provided by the third party. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
This material is from Benzinga and is being posted with its permission. The views expressed in this material are solely those of the author and/or Benzinga and Interactive Brokers is not endorsing or recommending any investment or trading discussed in the material. This material is not and should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell any security. It should not be construed as research or investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security or commodity. This material does not and is not intended to take into account the particular financial conditions, investment objectives or requirements of individual customers. Before acting on this material, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, as necessary, seek professional advice.
Join The Conversation
If you have a general question, it may already be covered in our FAQs page. go to: IBKR Ireland FAQs or IBKR U.K. FAQs. If you have an account-specific question or concern, please reach out to Client Services: IBKR Ireland or IBKR U.K..
Visit IBKR U.K. Open an IBKR U.K. Account